Link and chain forming mechanism



March 27, 1945. B. CAMPBELL LINK AND CHAIN FORMING MECHANISM OriginalFiled April 22, 1942 4 Sheets-Sheet l INV ENTO R L BARRETTUAMPBL'L L BYWATTORNEY March 27, 194 L. B. CAMPBELL LINK AND CHAIN FORMING MECHANISMOriginal Filed April 22, 1942 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR LBARRETT AMPBELLv 5Y3 E B I ATTORNEY March 27, 1945. B, CAMPBELL v LINK AND CHAINFORMING MECHANISM Original Filed April 22, 1942 4 Sheets-Sheet 3INVENTOR LBAn/n: TQMPBELL M .mmM'

' ATTORNEY March 27, 1945. 1.. B. CAMPBELL LINK AND CHAIN FORMINGMECHANISM 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Original Filed April 22, 1942 u a R P Y E w Mw M N m L 0 m w E 7 m R V T T 5 N K N (L T w a k m l. W A w D mm m 2 0 Wm U [m 2 5 c m M W ML 0 P n L g L m o E M R B m "M. v m Q P P M D U h 1.JB W K n T D C m P m. w i S H v P w m w 0 U F u .l 6 5 3 a W W w/7 5 5L T TT D M F" 5 S N RT R6 FE m R DE [A EN 9 W0 G l m mm m mm mm W m m 0m w Patented Mar. 27, 1945 Lyman Barrett Campbell, Waterbury, Conn., as-

signor to American Chain & Cable Company,

Inc.,

York 1 p ridgeport, Conn., a corporation of New Original 'applicationApril 22, 1942, Serial No.

440,081. Dividedand this application Novem- -ber 13,1942, Serial No.465,813

11'1" claims. 901. 59-27) This invention relates toa chain link'forming'mechanism, the preferred formof which is dis-' closed in my parentapplication, Ser. No.-44 0,081, filed April 22, 1942.

The principal object of this invention is the provision of an improvedchain link mechanism for forming links and connecting them'in a' chainin a continuous operation a speed. I

Other objects of this invention will appear from the followingdescription taken tion with the drawingsin which- Fig. l is a, top plan.view of a machine con structed in accordance with my invention;

Fig. 2 is a vertical longitudinal Section the machine on the line 2-2 ofFig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a vertical transverse section on the line 3-3 of Fig. 2; J

Fig. 4 is a front end view of the link handling fingers and the meansfor rotating the lastformed link into position toreceive the link beingformed; g

' Fig. 5 is a perspective view of the link handling fingers;

Fig. 6 is a perspective view of the wire cutting, link forming, linktrimming, and link closing mechanisms;

Fig. 7 shows the link handling fingers and the? mechanism disclosed inFig. 6 in the position they occupy after the wire cutting and the firstforming operation; v

Fig. 8 shows the position of the same parts after the second formingoperation Fig. 9 shows the position of the same partsafter the linktrimming operation;

Fig. 10 shows the position of the after the newly formed. link has beenconnected to the last formed link;.. Fig. 11, shows theposition of, the,same'parts same parts. closed and after the newly formed link has beenseized by the link handling fingers;

Fig. 12 shows the king post or anvils loweredto clear the newly formedlink to withdrawn from the link formingrcgion; I

Fig. l3 shows the form of Iinkproduced by movement of the parts into thepositions shown in Fig. 7;

Fig. 14 shows theform of link-produced bymovement of the parts into thepositionv shown inFig. 8;

Fig. 15 shows the link after the trimming opera-- movement of the partsinto the positions shown in Fig. 9; I f

Fig. 16 shows a closed link which is closed as.

tion. has been performed by in 'connecthrough" permit it .tov -beiii 'operating cam and lever;

the parts are moved into the position shown in' Fig. 10; 1 a

Fig. 17 is a side view of the hood or second former operating cam andlever; .Fig. 18 is a side view of the'king post or anvil .Fig. 19 is aside view of the first former and cutofi operating cam and lever; andFig. 20 is a timing or cam groove diagram. The machine disclosed in myparent application comprises wire straightening mechanism, wire feedingmechanism, wire check feed mechanism, link forming and link closingmechanisms, and link welding mechanism, all correlated so as toautomatically produce a finished weldedchain from wire stock. All of theparts of the machine are; shown at substantially 30 in the cycle ofoperation in the various, figures except in Figs.

forming and welding mechanisms. 1

, Figs. 1 and 3 drives a transverse shaft N at the of the latter.

same rate of speed and this latter shaft through gears :0 Fig. 1 drivesa shaft P Figs. 1 and 2 parallelingthe shaft Iat half the rate of speedThe various elements of the link and chain forming mechanism are driventhrough cams mounted on shafts K and P. f

.Fig. 20 shows the cam grooves of the various cams developed withrespect to one cycle of operationiof the machine starting from the beginning-of the cycle, showing. the entire lengths of the cam surfaces ofthe cams mounted on the shaft K and one half of the length of the camsurfaces of the cams mounted on the shaft P. This figure shows thetiming relation of the various cam surfaces and will be referred to asthe description continues.

The wire is fed forwardly by any suitable means such as that disclosedin myparent application, through a cutoff bushing 20 Figs; 1 and 3 whichis adjustably clamped in position on: the frame of the machine bysuitable clamp length of wire in a completed link and as disclosed moreparticularly in Fig. 6 the forward end of the wire is fed through agroove 2|a in the upper end of a king post or forming post whichcomprises a hardened block 2| adjustably mounted as indicated at 22Figs. 2 and 3 on an operating slide 23 operated by a box cam 25 Figs. 1,3 and 18 mounted on the cam-shaft K and pro vided with a groove 26receiving a roll on one end of a bell crank construction 21 suitablypivoted on the frame of the machine. The cam groove is shaped, see alsoFig. 20, so that it will raise the king post to its highest position atthe beginning of the cycle of operation of the machine and then lowerthe king post step by step at spaced intervals for reasons that willappear later in the description. In Fig. 6 the king post is shown in itsraised position at approximately 30 in the cycle of operation. Thegroove Zi divides the king post block into two sections, one of whichcomprises a lower relatively wide portion 30 and an upper narrow portion3| the function of which willbe referred to later. The other sectioncomprises a lower wide anvil 32 of a width slightly less than twice theinside length of the link to be formed and an upper narrow anvil 33which is of a width equal to the inside width of the link to be formed.The king post block 2| also supports spaced trimming dies 34 laterreferred to, for trimming the ends of a link before it is closed. Whenthe machine is at rest at the beginning of a cycle, the king post willbe in its lowermost position, see Fig. 20.

Mounted for cooperation with the lower wide anvil 32 is a pair offorming dies 35 and 35 Figs. 1, 3, 6 and '7 which are adjustably mountedas indicated at 31 on the laterally spaced legs of a slide as, seealso'Fig. 19, slidably retained on the platform '39 by overhangingguides 40 and 4|. The slide 38 is operated by means of a box cam 43,Fig. 19, mounted on the shaft K and provided with a cam groove 44, whichcooperates with a roll on the lower arm of a bell ,crank 45, which hasits upper arm pivotally engaging the slide." The cam groove 44, see alsoFig. 20, is shaped so as to move the forming dies 35 and 3B forwardly totheir extreme forward position and then to slightly move them rearwardlyand later in the operation after the link has been engaged by a secondforming die. to move them to their extreme rear position. The forwardends and inner sides of the dies 35 and 36 are provided with wirereceiving grooves 46 and 41. The outer corner of the die 36 cooperateswith the cutoff bushing 20 to cut off the wire.

Mounted for cooperation with the upper narrow anvil 33 is a hood orforming die 50 Figs. 1 and 6 to 12 adjustably mounted as indicated at ona slide 52, also see Fig. 1'7, supported on the platform 39. The formingdie 50 is provided with a recess 53 to clear the narrow portion 32 onthe block 2 I. The forward end of the die 50 and the side walls of therecess are provided with grooves 54 to receive the partially formedlink. This slide is operated by a box cam 58. Fig. 1'7, provided with acam groove 51 in which operates a roll carried by one arm of a lever 58,the other arm of which has a pivotal engagement with the slide 52. Thecam groove is so shaped, see also Fig. 20, that the hood will be movedforwardly/ to perform a second link bending operation and then after thelink has been trimmed, moved forwardly to its most forward position tocomplete the link bending operation and to close the link, and then itwill be partly withdrawn and finally moved back to its rearmost positionwhich position it occupies when the machine is at rest.

Cooperating with the trimming dies '34, Figs. 6 to 12, is a punch 60carried by a slide 6|, see also Figs. 1, 2 and 3, which is reciprocatedby a lever 62 suitably pivoted on the frame of the machine and operatedby a double box cam 63 on the shaft P. This box cam is provided with acam groove 64 shaped as shown in Figs. 2 and 20 to operate the trimmingdie twice during each rotation of the'shaft P and once during each cycleof operation of the machine. The cam is timed to operate after thesecond forming operation.

The king post slide 23 is supported during the trimming operation byanarm 66, Figs. 1, 2 and 3, provided with a raised portion adapted to bemoved under the king post slide. This arm is formed onthe lower end of ahub 61 Fig. 3 suitably pivoted on the frame. The upper end of the hub isprovided with an arm 68, to which is pivoted a slide provided with awide slot to receive the shaft K. The side walls of the slot may slidein a groove on the hub of a face cam 10' which is provided with a camface 1| engaged by a roll 12 on' the slide 69, the roll being held incontact with the face of the cam by a spring not shown. The mechanism sofar described will form andclose links and provision is made so that thenewly formed link as it is being closed is connected to the last formedlink. This mechanism comprises link handling mechanism. I

For the purpose of holding the last formed link and for presenting it tothe link forming mechanism at the time the newly formed link is closed,I provide an improved link handling mechanism Q Figs. 1, 2, 4, 5, and '7to 12 which is mounted for reciprocation toward andaway from the linkforming region and also for rotation for the purpose of turning the lastformed link angularly into position so it may be engaged by the newlyformed link as it is being closed. Supported in spaced uprights 13 and14, Figs. 1 and. 2, for rotation and axial movement is a shaft 15 whichis provided at its end which is adjacent to the link forming mechanismwith pairs of opposed spring fingers I6, 11 and I8, 19, see also Figs..4and 5. The fingers I1 and 19 are offset, as disclosed in Fig. 5 toprovide an opening through which the formed chain may leave the linkhandling fingers.

Mounted on the shaft 15 between the uprights I3 and 14 for rotation withthe shaft and permitting relative axial movement of the shaft withrespect thereto, is a gear 80, Figs. 1, 2 and 4, which is operated by asegmental gear or rack 8| on one end of a lever 82 suitably pivoted onthe frame of the machine,. the other end of which is provided with aroll engaging a groove 83 in a c am-84, see also Fig. 20, mounted on theshaft P. The cam groove is shaped to rock the shaft through an angle ofback and forth once during each rotation of the shaft P, that I I2,872,473 Q 'For thepurpose of moving'the shaft 15 axially I so as topresent'the' last formed link to the link forming mechanism and to seizethe newly formed link and to withdraw it fromthe link forming revgion,there is provided a face cam 85; Figsk l and '2, which'is mounted on-theshaftgP. xThe face of the cam is shaped,:see alLso FiguZO, to causeth eshaftand link handling finger to be moved to the right to presenttheglastzformed link in position to receive the link being formed;

and then to move the fingers further to the right to seize the newlyformed link and then to move the fingers to the leftto withdraw 1 thenewly formed linkfrom the link forming. region. C--

' operating with the cam face of this cam is axroll' on an arm'8fi whichis connected to a shaft 81 journaled in the frame'of thefmachine. "Theroll is pressed against the face .of; .the cam by means of a spring 88.Secured on the other. end of the shaft 81 is a bifurcated armflfl whichis provided with pins which 'extend intoa groove 90 "in -a sleeve 91slidable and rotatable on'the shaft 15. Motion is communicated fromthe-sleeve 9| to the shaft by means of a pringBLinterposed between andconnected to the'sleeveand a collar 93 pinned to the shaft. Operation ofthe link forming mechanism .lnthe position of rest at the end of a cycleof operation of the machine the dies whicncutn the ,wire and perform thefirst bendi g operation are in their rearmost position, th king post isin its lowermos positionx the kin po Sup ort- 5 m of supportinpositmmthehw r die th pt forms the second and third bending operationsis in i s rearmost position, the rimmingp n h i in its lowermost psition, and .thelink hand i fin er mechanism i in mtermediate',positions as toboth re iprocating and turning movements.

As the, machine is set in oper tion the reciplocating and turninmovements of the link handling fingers are completed and then the wire ied forw rd. and ma king postand. block 2| are raised. This istheposition of the parts shown in Fig.6. The cutoff and forming dies and36 are then; moved forward into the position shovvn in Fig. 7 producingthe low wide U link forin shown in Fig, 13. At this time the kingpostsupport rocked into supporting position.- The dies 35 and 36-arethenmoved slightly toward the rearand the king post is lowered to presentthe upperanvil the link to be fo'rmedjforming dies for bend- 33 oppositethe partiallyiormed link. ;After the king post has been'lowered asdescribed, the hood. 5 0 is moved forward into the position shown" inFig. .8 producing thepartiallyv formed link, disclosed in Fig. 14. Thetrimminglfllnchfifl' is then lowered into the position shown in Fig. 9to cut ofitheends of thelinkas shown. in F 15 n then theking postsupportis withdrawn, after. which thelink handling fingers are movedforwardinto the position shown in Fig. 10. The hood is moved forward to, the,extreme forward positionv disclosed in 1 0 during which movement itcloses the link as shown in Fig, 116: connecting the newly formed linkwith, the link formed during the preceding cycle of operation. The linkhandling fingers are then moved forwardly to seize the newly' formedlink which i held sta tionary by the narrow projecting portion 3| on theking post block! I. During this-movementthe previously formed link willbe engaged by the upper narrow anvil 33 and will bepushed back throughthe fingers of the link handling mechanism as disclosed inFig. 11-.Following this operation'the king-post will be lowereda'nd withdrawnfromthe newly-formed link-"to permit the link handlingv mechanism' towithdraw the newly formed'link from the'link forming region as disclosedin FigglZ'.

iuwhilea preferred form of my link and-chain fo'rming mech'anism hasbeen disclosed and-do scribed with 'iparticularity it is tobeunderstoodthat I reserve the right to all such'changes and, modifications as fallwithin the principles of my invention and the scope of the-appendedclaims.

-I-'c19,im; j Y a 1;.In a, link'forming mechanism, an anvil o-f lawidthslightly less than twice the length of the interior of the link tobeformed au'anvil' of'a izwidth equal'to the width of the interior ofinglink materialof sufficient length to form a linkzabout said' firstmentioned anvil," and a foriningadie for bending the central portion ofsaid length of material about the second mentioned anvil to'complete theoperation of form ing and closing a link, means for operating allof'zsaid forming dies and for causing a pause; in the movement of saidsecondmentioned form ing-die after thelink has been bent 'into' avv-form, andmeans for presenting a'formed link'duringtsaid pause intoposition to. be enmeshed by the link being formedf'as it is beingclosed.

-"2. In a' link forming mechanism, an anvil of a width slightlyless'than twice the length of the interior of the link to be formed, an.anvil of a width equal to thelwidth of the interior of the link to beformed,"forming dies for bend-' formed link during the resumption ofoperation a of saidsecond mentionedforming diev closing said V-formlink.

3. In a link forminglmechanism; the combination of a forming postdivided into two sections by' a groove to receive link-material, onesection of said post comprising alower-wide anvil and an upper narrowanvil and-the other section of said post comprising-a lower widelinkmaterial; backing portionand an upper narrow link backingportion,means for bending the link materialaround thezwideanvil,,means;for presenting the partially formed link: to the upper,narrow anvil, and meansfo'r bending and closing the partially formedlink about the upper anvil. and: connecting: it with a'fo rmed link.

4; In a linkforming mechanism, the combi-j nation of a, formingnostdividedinto twosections by a groovev to receive link material, onesection of said post comprising a lower wide anvil and an upper narrowanvil and the other section of said postcomp'rising a. lower'wide linkmaterialbacking portion and anupper narrow link backing portion, meansfor bending the link, material around the Wide anvil, means -forpresenting theqpartially formed link. to the upper narrow anvil, meansfor forming and closing a the linkabout the upper: anvil andlconnectingiit with s formedv link spring fin er means for anvil and anupper narrow suporting the last formed link, means for operating saidfinger means to move said formed link into position for connection withthe newly.

formed link as it is being formedjand for'mov-v the newly formed lowwide U and for bending said shallow wide U into 'V.-form, a movabletrimmer cooperating with said first mentioned slide'for cutting off theextreme ends of said V-form ,link, means for withdrawing said trimmer,means for presenting a formed link in position to be connected with thelink being formed, means for closing said link being formed, means foradvancing said link presenting means to seize the newly formed link andmeans for withdrawing said anvils to permit withdrawal of said newlyformed link from link forming position.

6. In a link forming mechanism, the combination of a movable slideprovided with link forming anvils for bendinglink material into ashallow wide U and for bending said shallow wide U into a V, spaced diessupported by said slide in position near the extreme free ends of saidv, supporting means for said slide, a movable trimmer cooperating withsaid dies, means for moving said trimmer toward said dies and forwithdrawing said trimmer and said supporting means, means for positionto receive the link being formed, means for. closing the link, means foradvancing the link presenting means to seize the newly formed link, andmeans for withdrawing saidsanvils to permit withdrawal of said newlyformed link from link'forming position.

'7. In a link forming mechanism, the combina tion of a forming postprovided with a lower wide anvil and an upper narrow anvil, a pair oflaterally spaced forming operate with said lower wide anvil for bendinlink material into a low wide U, said forming dies being provided withgrooves receiving said link material and the partially formed link,means slightly withdrawing said forming dies to provide clearancepermitting said king post to be lowered to present said narrow anvilopposite said partially formed link, and a forming die interposedbetween said first mentioned forming dies and movble to cooperate withsaid narrow anvil to complete the forming of said link.

' 8Q In a link formingmechanism, the combination of a forming postprovided with a lower wide anvil, a pair of laterally spaced formingdies movable to cooper.- ate with said lower wide anvil for bending linkmaterial into a low wide -U, means for lowering said forming post topresent said narrow anvil opposite the partially formed link, spacedtrimming dies supported by said forming "post-having their upper facesand cuttingedges" lying in a plane passing through the upper narrowanvil, a third forming die interposed between said first mentionedforming dies movable to cooperate with said upper narrow anvil to bendsaid partially formed link into the form of a'V with its ends resting onand projecting over said cutting edges of said trimming dies, andavertically reciprocating, trimming die movable presenting a formed linkin dies movable to codownwardly to cooperate with said cutting edges fortrimming the ends of said link of V-form.

9. In a link forming mechanism, the oombinam tion of a forming postprovided with a lower wide anvil and an upper narrow anvil, a pair oflaterally spaced forming dies movable to cooperate with said lower wideanvil for bending link material into a low wide U, means for loweringsaid forming post to presentsaid narrow anvil opposite the partiallyformed link, spaced trimming dies supported by said forming post havingtheir upper faces and cutting edges lying in a plane passing through theupper narrow anvil, a third forming die interposed between said firstmentioned forming dies movable-Ito cooperate with said upper narrowanvil to bend said partially formed'link into the form of a.V with itsends resting on and projecting over said'cutting edges of said trimmingdies, a vertically reciproeating trimming die movable downwardly tocooperate with said cutting edges for trimming the ends of said link ofV'-form, and an arm adapted to move under said forming post to supportthe same during the link'trimming operation.

10. In a link forming mechanism, the combination of a forming postprovidediwith a lower wide, anvil and an upper narrow anvil, a pair oflaterally spaced forming dies movable to cooperate with said lower wideanvil for bending link material into a low wide U, means for loweringsaid forming post to present said narrow anvil opposite the partiallyformed link, spaced trimming dies supported by said forming'post havingtheir upper faces and their cutting edges lying in a planepassingthrough the upper narrow anvil, a third forming die interposedbetween said first mentioned forming dies movable to cooperate with saidupper narrow anvil to bend said partially formed link into the form ofaV with its ends resting on and projecting over said cutting'edges, avertically reciprocatin trimming die movable downwardly to cooperatewith said cutting edges for trimming the ends of said link of V-form, anarm adapted to move under said forming post to support the same duringthe link trimming operation, means for moving said arm under'saidforming post before said link trimming operation and then moving saidarm into inoperative position after said link trimming operation, meansfor'm'oving said yertically reciprocating trimming die out of the pathof said third forming die, and means for moving said third forming dieto close said link.

11. In a link forming mechanism, the combination of. a forming postprovided with alower wide anvil and an upper narrow anvil, a pair oflaterally spaced forming dies movable to cooperate with said lower wideanvil m bendin 'link material into a low wide U, means for lowering saidforming post to present said narrow anvil opposite the partially formedlink, spaced trimmin dies supported by said forming 11 st having theirupper faces and their cutting edges lying in a plane passing through theupper narrow anvil, a third forming die interposed between said firstmentioned forming dies movable to cooperate with said upper narrowanvil, to bend the partially formed link into the form of a V with itsends resting on and projecting over said cutting edges, a verticallyreciprocating trimming die movable downwardly to cooperate with saidcutting edges fortrimming the ends of said link of V-form, an arm forsupporting said forming post during the link trimming operation, meansfor moving said arm under said forming post before said link trimmingoperation and then into inoperative position after said link trimmingoperation, and means for lowering said Vertically reciprocating trimmingdie to trim said link of V-form and to a point below the pathof. travelof said third forming die, means for moving the ends of said partiallyformed link of V-form and means for moving said third forming dieforwardly to close said partially formed link of V-form about saidformed link.

L. BARRETT CAMPBELL.

last formed link into the opening between the

